Hypothyroidism Support Group

Hypothyroidism is the disease state caused by insufficient production of thyrohormone by the thyroid gland. There are several distinct causes for chronic hypothyroidism, the most common being Hashimoto's thyroiditis and hypothyroidism following radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism. Advanced hypothyroidism may cause severe complications, the most serious one of which is...

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Normal Levels, so many symptoms!

deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi everyone, I'm new here.
I've been having my thyroid levels checked for several years now because I feel that I have so many symptoms, something must be wrong. My levels always come back normal, but I'm still suffering from these symptoms:

-thinning hair (I've been using rogaine for 4 years, I'm 23 years old)
-always cold hands and feet, fingers and toes sometimes turn blue
-always tired
-puffiness surrounding my eyes
-extremely dry, rough skin
-depression (comes and goes)
-constipation (have been to gastro several times, everything is normal)
-weight gain despite regular exercise and being on Weight Watchers.
-heavy periods (went on birth control to help them)
-a cyst on my thyroid (small, dr was not worried about it)
-my mom is diagnosed with hypothyroid.


Here are my most recent lab results. I really don't know what they mean, except that everything is normal besides my CO levels.

Basic Metab Panel w/EGFR Reference Range
Glucose, Fasting 90 65-99 mg
Sodium 142 135-146
Potassium 5.1 3.5-5.3
Chloride 106 98-110
Carbon Dioxide 20 21-23
Urea Nitrogen 10 7-25
Creatinine 0.8 0.5-1.2
Bun/Creatinine Ratio 13 6-22
Calcium 10.2 8.6-10.2
EGFR Non Af. Amer >60 >=60
EGFR Af. Amer =60

TSH 2.17 0.4-5.5
T4, Free 0.9 0.8-1.8
T4, Total 8.1 4.5-12.0
T3, Total 111 60-181


I'm wondering what I should do now. If my labs are normal, will any dr ever treat me? Is there some other condition that I should be worried about? I noticed these symptoms starting about 4 years ago, it hasn't been like this for my whole life.

Any suggestions are appreciated, I'm not sure what the next step is!
nicolou
nicolou
wow you definatly sound hypo!! keep going back to the doctor, he who shouts loudest gets heard!!! you must keep on at him... you shouldnt have to live with these symptoms!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
You might want to ask your Dr to review the latest information, as the target range has been lowered, with the finding being that many borderline patients feel better at the lower end of normal; down to about .1 or.2, even. If your Dr will not help you, then find one who will listen to you. There is a great directory of patient-recommended Drs on the "find-a-doc" list on About.com in their thyroid disease section. You definitely are sympotomatic, so keep pushing until someone(besides us) listens.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Also, according to what my Dr says, your Co2 is also low, which is a sign of mitochondrial dysfuntion. You might want to add some b vitamins, CoQ10, and L-Carnitine into your supplement regimen.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I always feel better on the higher end of normal. maybe up your meds?
sometimes my doc will tell me to take an extra pill once a week to adjust levels just a little bit.
I still have symptoms like sensitivity to cold and hair loss.
Also check vitamin D levels...since I have been taking it, I feel so much better.
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sweetie, you are definitely hypothyroid, and by the sounds of things, have been for quite a while. I don't know what doctor is treating you, but you've got all the classic signs...he should be treating you for your symptoms, not the darn numbers. This happens all the time. Find yourself another doc that will listen to symptoms and treat. Keep an eye on your blood calcium...your on the edge of it being too high, and high blood calcium can lead to heart disease. Your young, I know, but just keep an eye on it. I wish you luck, but don't take no for an answer....if nothing else, ask for a trial run on a small amount of Synthroid (they should always start low and slowly bring you up to where you feel well). Keep us posted.

Beckeroo
deleted_user
deleted_user
Thanks for everyone's replies. I guess I do need to find a new doctor. I've been seeing my mom's dr, she looooove him, but I guess he's not for me.

kerry - I can't up my meds, I'm not on them yet! My doctor won't treat me with normal levels.

I also wonder if I had a blood test *not* fasting, would my glucose bump me into pre-diabetic? The number fasting is so high to begin with.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am hypoT as well and all my levels are normal as well but i am still getting alot of the same symptoms too. Such as tiredness, dry skin, Cold hands, Muscle pain, Headaches.
I am even going to fight to get diagnose with Fibro too as it's linked.
deleted_user
deleted_user
You certainly sound hypo to me, all the same symptoms I have, with the exception of the heavy periods of course.
Good luck
deleted_user
deleted_user
If I was a dr. I would treat you for hypo. In my opinion the levels should be 0 if you are experienceing syptoms. I'd see an endocrinologist and get a full workup. They do more tests than general dr.s do.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have "normal" but on the low side of normal, I too have all the hypo symptoms, was in the hospital for a "mini stroke, had an ultra sound done on my thryroid and they found a goiter and some nodules, maybe now my doc my just do something,
deleted_user
deleted_user
I lived with symptoms of hypo for years. I believe I started having problems at 15 when I went from 120 lbs to 185 lbs in 4 months. I have steadily fell apart since then. I have only been being treated in the last year. I moved so much and changed doctors so much that it was hard for them to catch the numbers off. One time the numbers came back so that they could treat me but I moved before my next appointment and when I had the tests run by the next doctor the levels were normal. Go figure. So I just struggled for years with the symptoms. The doctor I have now, who has treated me before, was very frustrated. The first time I met him was when I had to take my son to the ER for a bicycle injury. While my son was being x-rayed him and I got into a conversation. I don't know how it came about but he did a test on my with my eyes. He said they lig-lagged. His term, lol. He said that it was a sure sign of hypo. He also said my eyes were exopthalmic. I started seeing him and he ran the tests for thyroid levels, Graves, and Hashimoto. Nothing showed. He referred me to a eye doctor for my eyes. I started treatment for the exopthalmia. My doctor was at his wits end with what to do because he said his hands were tied in America. He told me that where he studied and practiced before that you used patient information, physical examination or labs to treat. In America you have to have the labs that agree with your assessment before they can legally treat you. He did, however, put me on a half grain of Armour Thyroid but it was not the answer. I went over 300 lbs and have not seen under it since. Well, while I was living in another state I had the tests, as always, lol (every doctor checked me regularly), and my levels finally showed the disease. I could finally be treated correctly and when I moved back here and started seeing the doctor I use to have I felt really good.
deleted_user
deleted_user
You should be checked for thyroid antibodies. You can have normal levels of T3/T4 and be off the chart there. My sister had all the symptoms and had to fight her Dr to get the test done. It was discovered she has Hashimoto's thyroiditis and had to have part of her thyroid removed. Now I'm having the same problems without a Dr to listen,and fear the same end result.
Just because a TSH is normal doesn't mean everything's okay. Find a Doc to listen who will test for thyroid antibodies.
Don't give up! Your health is worth the fight. Good luck. :-)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I had normal levels, too, but was very near the outside of the range, and my PCP decided to put me on Levoxyl based on symptoms. I just learned this week that I also have RA, and in the process of that testing my rheumatologist told me my thyroid antibodies were 6 times the normal level. So, as someone else suggested, perhaps you should request that your antibodies be checked as well. I've also read that the range that docs call normal is actually in question, so "normal" is actually subjective.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I just wanted to let you know, don't give up! I've been dealing with a lot of the same symptoms over the years and in the last year and some they have taken over me. Luckily my GP knows me well enough to know I'm not just "depressed". Dr's have always thought "thyroid" and my TSH is always "normal". Last time it was 1.85, very "normal" but my symptoms have gotten a lot worse. Notice your free T4 is on the low side of normal range, as someone else had pointed out to me as mine was also. What's normal for some isn't going to be normal for you. They finally ran an anti -TPO test on me and it came up positive, which is a test for Hashimoto's. They just started me on Levoxyl (despite my TSH levels) and we'll see how things help. Have you found a new dr yet?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I just found another doctor! I've had it with mine! He doesn't listen! I told him several time that my hair is falling out, I'm tired, can't think straight, have discharge coming from my chest, gained 10 pounds, just had carpal tunnel surgery! I've had enough and want to feel good again. I also take a thyroid vitamin my dad got for me, it doesn't do much. I take green tea! Nothing is helping and it's driving me crazy!!!!! I wish you luck and if he doesn't listen to you and just go by labs, RUN and find another doctor. My doc lowered the dose after I told him what I just stated, I thought he was nuts! I figured OK, maybe being hyper you get these symptoms but two books later and constant research on the internet says I'm hypo! Don't stop until you feel better, that's my goal!

GOOD LUCK and know I'm right there with you!
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